Indiana BC Oaks

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Friday night's $400,000 Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks (G3) will feature a field

of 10 sophomore fillies going 1 1/16 miles at Hoosier Park, and MIRACULOUS MISS

(Mr. Greeley) is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line. The once-beaten lass is a

very talented sprinter, but we'll try to beat the likely favorite.

MAGGIE SLEW (Seattle Slew) can win wire to wire. A two-time allowance winner

sprinting at Churchill Downs this summer, the David Vance trainee stretched out

in distance for the 1 1/16-mile Iowa Oaks (G3) in late June and narrowly missed

leading the entire way. She came close in the Gardenia H. (G3) next time out,

but Maggie Slew couldn't sustain her speed against more pressure last time out

in the 1 1/8-mile Arlington Matron H. (G3). We won't hold that performance

against her. The dark bay has gained valuable experience against older rivals in

her last two starts, and she could be the lone speed on Friday. The distance is

a good fit, and we'll look for a career-best effort from Maggie Slew.

BAGHDARIA (Royal Academy) was no factor in the Coaching Club American Oaks

(G1) last time, but she cuts back to a much more favorable distance (two for

three at 8 1/2 furlongs) while dropping in class. She ran a big race when

overhauling Maggie Slew in the Iowa Oaks two starts back, and Baghdaria owns the

tactical speed to enjoy a perfect trip from her inside post. The Tom Amoss pupil

could challenge for it all at a good price (10-1 on the morning line).

Multiple Grade 2 winner Miraculous Miss, who is cross-entered to Saturday's

Cotillion Breeders' Cup H. (G2), rolled through the stretch to capture the six-furlong Endine

H. (G3) last out, but she's never been two turns and won't offer any value at

short odds. There also isn't much pace to benefit the late-running chestnut if

she runs in this spot. We'll let her beat us for top honors.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up ERMINE (Exchange Rate), who is also

cross-entered to Saturday's Cotillion, will be making her first start since a

fifth-place finish in the Acorn S. (G1) nearly four months back. She's

consistently hit the board throughout her career and merits serious

consideration for the exotics on Friday, but the Ronny Werner trainee must break

from the far outside post and could be compromised by a wide trip. If she drops

farther off the pace like she did in her two previous attempts, Ermine could

leave herself with too much to do in the stretch.

WILD FIT (Wild Wonder) is better than she's shown in her last two starts and

is a candidate to rebound with a much improved showing in her third start off

the layoff. We'll use her in some exotics, but it's difficult to get excited

about her win chances. POLITICAL WEB (Petionville) has shipped in from

California for trainer Nick Canani, and the improving miss exits a couple of

nice wins at Del Mar. The stalker owns solid BRIS Speed numbers and could offer

a serious challenge in her Indiana bow, but Political Web didn't run well the

last time she stretched out in distance.

CRYPTOQUIP (Cryptoclearance) got away with slow fractions when leading wire

to wire in the Arlington Breeders' Cup Oaks (G3) last out, and she'll

probably revert to stalking tactics here. The dark bay is improving for Tom

Proctor, but we'll just watch to see how she fares stepping up in company. COOLWIND (Forest Wildcat) offered a decent run for second behind Cryptoquip

on that occasion, but

we wonder whether she's fast enough to contend in this spot. PEAK MARIA'S WAY

(Pyramid Peak) has hit the board in her last two starts, but she hasn't been much of

a factor in her last four attempts against stakes rivals. SOUTHERN FLU (Dixie

Union) brings lower Speed ratings into her graded debut.